Below is a brief summary of the itinerary. For a full description, see "Itinerary". The hours in parentheses ( ) indicate time on the motor coach between stops.
DAY 1 - Overnight flight from the U.S.A. to Europe.
DAY 2 - Arrive at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport. Meet your tour manager and transfer (1½ hr) through the reclaimed land of the Flevo Polder to your hotel in Lelystad followed by a welcome dinner. (Dinner)
DAY 3 - Day of leisure to explore Holland. Or, join the optional 'Grand Holland' excursion beginning with a drive (1 hr) through Holland's countryside and a stop at a picturesque Dutch village. Continue (1 hr) to Amsterdam for free time and a boat ride through the canals. Return (1½ hr) to your Lelystad hotel in time for dinner. (Breakfast, Dinner)
DAY 4 - Travel (2½ hrs) to historic Antwerp. Free time in Antwerp. Then, travel (2 hrs) to Margraten, site of the American WWII Cemetery. Continue (¾ hr) to Heerlen, at the conjunction of Holland, Belgium and Germany.
(Breakfast, Dinner)
DAY 5 - Cross the border into Germany's North Rhine area (2 hrs). Take a break, before continuing (1 hr) through the Rhine River Valley to Boppard. Board a river boat for a 1½-hr upstream cruise on the legendary, castle-lined Rhine River. After disembarkation, proceed (1¾ hr) to the old town of Heidelberg. Transfer (1/3 hr) to your hotel in Schriesheim. (Breakfast, Dinner)
DAY 6 - Scenic travel (2½ hrs) to the beautifully-preserved, medieval, walled town of Rothenburg. After free time in Rothenburg, follow the Romantic Road (1½ hr) and pause in one of the charming, old-world villages. Continue (1½ hr) to Adelsried for overnight. (Breakfast, Dinner)
DAY 7 - Motor (1 hr) to the elegant Bavarian capital of Munich for a panoramic tour and free time in the pedestrian-only 'old town', with opportunity to visit the famous 'Hofbräuhaus'. Cross the border into Austria, and follow the Inn River (2 hrs) to the Imperial City of Innsbruck. Free time for independent sightseeing in Innsbruck. Proceed (½ hr) to the nearby Stubaital Valley, for a two-night stay. (Breakfast, Dinner)
DAY 8 - Free day to explore on your own. Or, join the optional, full-day 'Bavarian Palace' excursion during which you will travel across the scenic Seefeld Pass (1½ hr), visit Linderhof Palace, ride through Bavaria (1¼ hr), and make a photo stop of Neuschwanstein Castle. Return (1¾ hr) to Stubaital Valley. Independent dinner, or consider the optional 'Tyrolean Show and Dinner' excursion (½-hr transfer, each way). (Breakfast)
DAY 9 -Cross the spectacular Brenner Pass through the "Dolomites" (1½ hr). After the customary morning break, travel (2 hrs) to subtropical Lake Garda. Free time for independent lunch and relaxation. Continue (1¼ hr) to legendary Verona of Romeo & Juliet fame. There will be two transfers (¼ hr), from Verona to your hotel in nearby Bussolengo, one at 6 pm and one at 8 pm. (Breakfast)
DAY 10 - Spend a leisurely day in Verona or at beautiful Lake Garda. Or, join the full day optional excursion to 'Venice' (2-hr transfer each way between Bussolengo and Venice). Spend the night in Bussolengo. (Breakfast)
DAY 11 - Travel through northern Italy (2½ hrs). After a border stop, cross into Switzerland (1 hr). Check out Lugano, the "Rio of the Old Continent". Motor through William Tell country (2 hrs) with a short stop in Altdorf. Then, continue (1 hr) to the Lake Lucerne Region for a two-night stay. (Breakfast, Dinner)
DAY 12 - Short ride (½ hr) to the mountain resort of Stans this morning, with the opportunity to take an optional 'Swiss Mountain' funicular ride. On to Lucerne (½ hr) for afternoon sightseeing and an optional 'Swiss Lake Boat Ride'. At 4:30 pm, return (¾ hr) to your Lake Lucerne Region hotel. (Breakfast, Dinner)
DAY 13 - To Basel (1½ hr), at the conjunction of Switzerland, Germany and France. After a convenience stop, cross the border into the Alsace Region of France (1½ hr). Take another brief break, before continuing (1½ hr) to the medieval village of Beaune, center of Burgundy wine country, for free time and independent lunch. Then, proceed to Auxerre (2 hrs) for an included dinner. After dinner, it's on to Paris (2 hrs), for a two-night stay. (Breakfast, Dinner)
DAY 14 - A full day for individual exploration of Paris, with opportunities for two optional excursions, namely 'Seine River Cruise' and 'Paris Evening', which includes dinner at a characteristic French bistro in the heart of Paris. Between afternoon sightseeing and individual evening activities, your tour manager will schedule a transfer (¾ hr) to the hotel.(Breakfast)
DAY 15 - You still have the morning in Paris. Then, transfer (½ hr) to the train station, from where the high-speed "Eurostar" train will take you under the English Channel to the British coast and onward to London in less than 3 hours. Transfer (1/2 hr) to your London hotel, for room assignment and dinner. (Breakfast, Dinner)
DAY 16 - This morning, enjoy a panoramic tour of London (3 hrs). The afternoon is yours for individual sightseeing and shopping. For dinner on your own tonight, there are plenty of pubs and restaurants to choose from, or join the optional 'London Dinner & Theater' excursion. (Breakfast)
DAY 17 - Transfer (1 hr) to London Heathrow Airport for the return flight home. (Breakfast)